Method for preparing beef feet products

ABSTRACT

THE PROCESS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION IS PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN THE PREPARATION OF KOSHER OR NONKOSHER ANIMALS&#39;&#39; FEET FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION INVOLVING A SEQUENCE OF STEPS IN WHICH A PLURALITY OF FEET, FOLLOWING PRELIMINARY PREPARATION AND CLEANING, ARE REVOLVED IN A TUMBLER HAVING SPACED OPENINGS AND CONTAINING A CAUSTIC SOLUTION AT A PRESELECTED ELEVATED TEMPERATURE WHEREBY TO EFFECT THE COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THE HAI AND HAIR FOLLICLES COVERING THE UPPER SHANK PORTION OF THE FEET. THE TUMBLER EMPLOYED IS CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE SPACED OPENINGS HAVE RELATIVELY SMOOTH EDGES WHICH WILL LEND SOME ABRASIVE ACTION TO THE HAIR REMOVAL PROCESS WITHOUT DAMAGING THE SKIN.

July 11, 1972 SHELDON 3,676,153

METHOD FOR PREPARING BEEF FEET PRODUCTS Filed Nov. 24, 1969 WASH SOAK SALT CAUST'C RINSE TREATMENT TREATMENT TR AT SOLUTION E MENT TREATMENT TREATMENT IN VEN TOR RICHARD SHELDON ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,676,153 METHOD FOR PREPARING BEEF FEET PRODUCTS Richard Sheldon, Denver, Colo., assignor to Litvak Meat Company Inc., Denver, Colo. Filed Nov. 24, 1969, Ser. No. 879,441 Int. Cl. AZZc 18/00 US. Cl. 99-107 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The process of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in the preparation of kosher or nonkosher animals feet for human consumption involving a sequence of steps in which a plurality of feet, following preliminary preparation and cleaning, are revolved in a tumbler having spaced openings and containing a caustic solution at a preselected elevated temperature whereby to effect the complete removal of the hair and hair follicles covering the upper shank portion of the feet. The tumbler employed is characterized in that the spaced openings have relatively smooth edges which will lend some abrasive action to the hair removal process without damaging the skin.

This invention relates to a novel and improved method and apparatus for preparing animal feet for human consumption and more particularly relates to a method and means for cleaning and preparing kosher beef feet, specifically comprising the hoof and shank portions, to effect the complete removal of the hair and hair follicles in a rapid dependable manner.

The preparation of kosher meat products essentially requires that the meat, in addition to adhering to specified standards, undergo special treatment. In the preparation of beef feet, prior methods of treatment have virtually necessitated individual or hand preparation of each foot in a tedious and time-consuming operation. Thus, for instance, those feet selected and considered to comply with kosher standards have also required in their preparation preliminary washing, soaking and salting, followed by singeing to remove the hair from the hide or skin covering the shank; however, singeing of the hair has suffered the drawback of incomplete removal of the hair follicles.

In general, it is known to remove the hair from animal hides by subjecting to the abrasive action of a rotating tumbler. However, the tumblers presently in use and the processes in which they are employed are not satisfactory for cleaning the shank portion of the foot. For example, those tumblers of the type having bottle cap openings with inwardly projecting lips tend to subject the feet to undue abrasive action; and particularly when used in combination with a caustic or base solution have made it difficult if not impossible to subject any quantity of feet to a tumbling process and assure uniform cleaning of the entire batch. Moreover, it has been found that the temperature at which the feet are tumbled in the caustic solution and thereafter rinsed is important to assure uniformity and reliability in cleaning a number of feet in an assembly line process.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved method and apparatus for preparing animal feet and specifically a process which is adaptable for preparation of kosher and non-kosher ice products and will assure compliance with established kosher standards.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a new and useful process in which beef feet may be handled in quantities and subjected to a rapid sequence of steps of washing, salting, hair removal and final rinsing which avoids the necessity of close attention and individual handling; yet at the same time assures uniformity and complete cleaning in the preparation of the feet for human consumption.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved tumbler particularly adaptable for use in tumbling animal feet through a caustic solution and subjecting the feet to the combined abrasive action of the tumbler and the chemical reaction of the caustic solution in effecting complete removal of the hair and hair follicles.

In accordance with the present invention, the feet, specifically including the shank and hoof portions, are severed from the carcass and undergo a preliminary washing and soaking sequence in a conventional manner. In the kosher preparation of selected feet, the feet further undergo a salting step to drain all of the blood from the feet. The feet are then placed in a tumbler of generally cylindrical form and having a plurality of smooth-edged spaced openings uniformly throughout the cylindrical wall of the tumbler, and the tumbler is rotatable within a vat partially filled with a caustic solution. The caustic or base solution may suitably comprise a sodium hydroxide in solution and heated to arpreselected temperature on the order of to A plurality of feet may be simultaneously placed in the tumbler, the vat and tumbler sealed and the tumbler caused to rotate at a very slow rate of speed whereby to continuously advance the feet through the caustic solution while abraiding and intermittently tossing or tumbling the feet. The tumbling operation lasts a matter of minutes and is followed by a rinse operation in which the caustic solution is replaced by clear water at an elevated temperature. The feet are then removed from the tumbler and are ready for trimming and packaging.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more fully appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the sequence of steps for preparation of animal feet in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a preferred form of tumbler apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is an end view of the preferred form of tumbler apparatus as shown in FIG. 2.

:Referring to the drawings in more detail, there is shown in FIG. 1 the steps in a process for preparing meat products, such as beef feet, in compliance with kosher food standards. The steps in this process comprise a wash treatment, soak treatment, salt treatment, caustic solution treatment and a rinse treatment.

In the wash treatment, beef feet which have preferably just been severed from the animal carcass are washed in a suitable detergent. Here, the feet are severed at the first joint above the hoof and each includes the shank portion from which the hair and hair follicles are to be removed. After washing, the feet are then cleansed and made sanitary for human consumption in a conventional soak treatment. The soak treatment may, for example, comprise soaking the feet in lukewarm water for a predetermined period of time, thereby to clean the feet sufiiciently'and make them suitable for human consumption. Once the feet have been soaked, they are salted by standing them on end in an open container and sprinkling them with salt. The salt has the effect of encouraging the flow of blood until substantially all the blood has been drained therefrom.

Directly following the salting treatment, the beef feet are dehaired by tumbling in a caustic solution bath. A preferred form of tumbling apparatus for carrying out the caustic solution treatment is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Referring thereto, there is shown framework which forms an upwardly opening rectangular tank or vat 12. An outlet is formed in the lower portion of one side of the tank 12. A sluice gate 16 is mounted on the tank 12 for opening and closing the outlet 15. The sluice gate 16 is operated by means of handle 17 which is connected thereto.

Rotatably mounted on the framework defining the tank 12 so as to run longitudinally over and along the center of the tank 12 is a shaft 22. A cylindrical container 23 having a plurality of holes 24 formed thoughout in its cylindrical wall is mounted on the shaft 22 so as to rotate therewith. The container 23 is rotatable within the tank 12 and by means of the holes 24 permits the transfer of fluid in the tank 12 to and from the interior of the container 23. The openings 24 are smooth-edged, flush with the container wall, and are spaced uniformly throughout the cylindrical wall of the container 23. The container 23 has a door 29 in its cylindrical wall, as is shown in Washed lines in FIG. 3. The door 29 may be selectively opened for inserting cow feet to be processed into the interior of the container 23. The door 29 is normally clamped shut to retain the feet within the container as they are rotated and tumbled.

Mounted over the top of the tank 12 so as to enclose the container 23 is a tank cover 27 having handles 28. The cover is slidably mounted so that by lifting on the handles 28 the cover 27 may be selectively opened to gain access to the interior of the container 23. Drive means in the form of a motor 25 and a chain drive assembly 26 are mounted on the apparatus 10 for driving the shaft 22. The chain drive assembly 26 connects the out put shaft of the motor 25 to the shaft 22. 'In an exemplary apparatus constructed, a three H.P. motor drove the shaft and the container 23 at the rotation rate of approximately twelve r.p.m.

During the caustic solution treatment, the tank 12 of the tumbling apparatus 10 is filled with a siutable caustic or base solution 18 which is heated to an elevated temperature above 150 F. and below the boiling point of Water. A suitable caustic solution is here defined as one which at the particular temperature it is used chemically reacts to loosen the hair and the hair follicles from the shank portion without damaging the hide or skin. One such suitable caustic solution is a caustic soda or sodium hydroxide solution which is heated to a temperature of 155l60 F. for introduction into the tumbling apparatus.

In the operation of the tumbling apparatus 10, cow feet are dehaired by loading a plurality of the feet into the cylindrical container 23. The feet are loaded in the container by first opening the cover 27 and then the door 29 of the container 23. Once the feet have been placed in the interior of the container 23, the door 29 is clamped shut and the cover 27 is closed. The motor 25 is then energized to rotate the container 23 at a relatively slow rate, such as twelve r.p.m. The cow feet in the interior of the container 23 are then tumbled along the containers cylindrical wall through the caustic solution 18 which flows through the holes 24 in the cylindrical wall of the container 23. The beef feet are tumbled for approximately seven to ten minutes until substantially all the hair has been removed from the beet feet as a result of the chemical action of the caustic solution 18 and the mildly abrasive action of the cylindrical wall of the container 23 upon the tumbling beef feet.

Once the beef feet have been dehaired, the handle 17 is operated to open the sluice gate 16 so that the caustic solution 18 exits through the outlet 15. The caustic solution 18 is directed by suitable conduits means, not shown, to a suitable place of disposal. Once the solution 18 1s drained from the tank 12 the rinse treatment 1s commenced.

The rinse treatment consists of rinsing the dehaired feet so as to remove the caustic solution 18 therefrom. 0ne way in which the rinse treatment may be accomplished is by closing the sluice gate 16 and filling the now empty tank 12 with preheated water and the water may contain a suitable neutralizer. The beef feet may then be simply allowed to soak in the heated water or may be tumbled therethrough in order to rinse the solution 18 from the dehaired feet. Once the beef feet are rinsed they may then be removed from the tumbler apparatus 10, trimmed and then packaged for sale.

While the above-described process is particularly adapted for preparing beef feet in compliance with kosher food standards, an essentially similar process could be employed for preparing non-kosher beef feet; the only modification in the process would be that the salting step which is for the purpose of blood removal would be optional instead of mandatory. In preparing food in compliance with non-kosher standards, the beef feet could be transferred immediately after the soak treatment to the caustic solution treatment.

Thus, there has been provided a novel process for preparing meat products, such as beef feet, for human consumption. This process is characterized by including a novel dehairing step wherein animal hair is removed by a combined abrasive and chemical action. The process is further adapted to prepare meat products in compliance with non-kosher or kosher food standards. An improved tumbling apparatus which provides a mildly abrasive action is also employed in the dehairing step of the novel process.

While a preferred form of the invention has been set forth and described herein, it is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the specific construction and arrangement of elements as well as the intended application without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of preparing beef feet, including the hoof and shank portions from which hair and hair follicles are to be removed, for human consumption, which comprises the steps of cleaning the feet by washing and soaking treatments whereby the feet are in a sanitary condition;

placing the feet in a cylindrical container having a plurality of smooth-edged openings flush with the wall of the container;

rotating the container in a vat containing a caustic soda solution at an elfective temperature above F. and below the boiling point of water for a period on the order of seven to ten minutes, the caustic soda solution being of a concentration which at the particular temperature it is used chemically reacts to loosen the hair and hair follicles from the shank portion without damaging the skin thereof, the rotating container with the smooth-edged openings subjecting the feet to an abrasive action without damaging the skin thereof until the hair is removed therefrom; and

rinsing the feet in a neutralizing solution.

2. The method of preparing beef feet including the hoof and shank portions from which hair and hair follicles are to be removed, which comprises the steps of:

cleaning the feet by washing and soaking treatments whereby the feet are in a sanitary condition;

salting said feet to induce the drainage of blood thererinsing the feet in said sodium hydroxide solution in from; water containing a neutralizing agent.

tumbling said feet to remove the hair and hair follicles therefrom by placing the feet in a cylindrical con- References Cited tainer having a plurality of smooth-edged openings 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS flush with and uniformly spaced through its cylin- 3,577,241 5/1971 Means et a1. X

drical wall, rotating said cylindrical container through a vat containing a sodium hydroxide solu- 3254938 6/1966 Rodnguez et 8 94'16 X tion at an elevated temperature below the boiling OTHER REFERENCES point of water, whereby the solution flows through 10 Rose et al., The condensed Chemical Dictionary,"

the openings into contact with the feet and is of a concentration which at the particular temperature 1956 publlshed by Remhold Pulvllshmg Corpa New York p. 236, article entitled Caustic Soda and p. 1003, at-

it is used chemically reacts to loosen the hair and hair follicles from the shank portions without damtlcle emltlefl s f aging the skin thereof while simultaneously subject- 15 (3335611, Dlcuonary of Cookery 1881 93 calfs ing the rotating feet to the abrasive action of the Feet' cylindrical wall and edges of the openings until the hair follicles are removed therefrom; and followed HYMAN LORD Pnmary Exammer by: 

